Pepperfry, Wakefit pivot to local wood as freight doubles, foam inputs jump 30-160%
Red Sea disruption stretches shipping lead times to 5-7 weeks and nearly doubles ocean freight, forcing India's furniture platforms to localise sourcing and lift inventory buffers. Pepperfry has hiked prices on 30-35% of SKUs by 7-8%, with dining tables up 5-10% QoQ as polyols and TDI inflate.
Indian furniture makers Pepperfry, Wooden Street and Wakefit are shifting to locally sourced wood and raising inventory buffers as Red Sea shipping delays, doubled freight costs and 30-160% foam chemical inflation push 30-35% of SKUs into 7-8% price hikes.